Seeking and Processing Information about Impersonal Risk

Abstract

Attempts to model risk response tend to focus on risks that pose a direct personal threat. This study examined the applicability of one risk response model to impersonal risks-risks that threaten something other than the self, in this case, the environment. This study utilized a section of the Griffin et al. riskinformation seeking and processing model, which depicts relationships between informational subjective norms and information seeking and processing as being mediated by perceptions of information insufficiency. The results indicate that while those relationships do hold for impersonal risk, informational subjective norms (perceived social pressure to be informed) may play an even more complex role than initially anticipated. These norms may be a powerful predictor of seeking and processing when individuals face impersonal risks.

What, Me Worry? The Role of Affect in Information Seeking and Avoidance

“…The RISP model depicts this cognitive need for information sufficiency as the key motive for information seeking. Past research has also found that perceived information sufficiency could lead to information-avoidance (Kahlor, Dunwoody, Griffin, & Neuwirth, 2006). That is, when people are satisfied with the amount of information they already have about a specific risk, they are likely to avoid further information on this topic.…”

“…In the RISP model, perceived information-gathering capacity mainly deals with one's ability to access and understand risk information. Several RISP studies have found a positive relationship between this concept and current knowledge about a risk issue (Griffin et al, 2008;Kahlor et al, 2006;ter Huurne et al, 2009). …”

“…Kahlor et al (2006) examined the applicability of the model to environmental risks that do not pose direct harm to one's health and well-being (impersonal risks). In this context, both ISN and information insufficiency emerged as powerful predictors of information seeking and information avoidance.…”

“…Respondents' general tendency to avoid information about climate change was assessed as a latent construct based on five 6-point Likert-type scales. These measures were also adopted from past research (Kahlor et al, 2006).…”

Making sense of food risk information : the case of organic food

“…risks that are a direct threat to something other than the self, instead of a personal risk. Previous research (Kahlor, Dunwoody, Griffin & Neuwirth, 2006) showed that social norms were most important in predicting information seeking and processing in relation to impersonal risks, while other relations were less prominent. This might explain our low effect of risk perception and anxiety and the strong effect of social norms.…”